Temple Grandin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 29, 1947 to Richard Grandin and Eustacia Cutler. She was diagnosed with autism at age 2. She suffered from delayed speech development and did not begin to speak until the age of 4. Temple’s mother defied the doctors and kept her out of institutions. Temple was given speech therapy as well as an intensive education. Her high school science teacher and her aunt on a ranch in Arizona inspired Temple to continue her studies and pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer. She graduated from Hampshire Country School (a boarding school for gifted children) in Ridge, New Hampshire in 1966, and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. In 1975, she received a master’s degree in animal science from Arizona State University and then a doctoral degree in animal science from the University of Illinois in 1989. She is currently a professor at Colorado State University. Dr. Grandin is one of the world’s leaders in the design of livestock handling facilities. She has done extensive work in design of handling facilities for animals and has developed animal welfare guidelines for the meat industries. Dr. Grandin is a past member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of America. She lectures to parents and teachers throughout the U.S. on her experiences with autism. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers and verbal thinkers.

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Recent Submissions

  • The Design and Construction of Facilities for Handling Cattle

    Grandin, Temple (1997)
    The article focuses on the following: Cattle Perception, How to prevent Balking, Solid Fences, Flight Zone, Curved Race more Efficient, Curved Race and Crowd Pen Dimensions, Loading Ramps, Working Corral for a Large Ranch, Squeeze Chutes and Headgates, Calf Tables, Artificial Insemination Chute, New Restraint Ideas, Dipping Vats, Bruise and Injury Prevention, Washable Facilities.
  • The Reluctance of Cattle to Change a Learned Choice May Confound Preference Tests

    Grandin, Temple; Odde, K.G.; Schutz, D.N.; Behrns, L.M. (1994)
    The conclusion of the article states "it appears that previously learned choices may affect future choices in Y-mazes for cattle. Another area that needs to be researched is the effects of a mildly aversive treatment versus a severely aversive treatment on the tendency of a bovine to resist changing a learned choice".
  • Pointers on Design and Operation of Cattle Restrainer Systems

    Grandin, Temple (The National Provisioner, 1976-10-30)
    The article discusses the importance of design and the people who run handling systems.
  • Stairway to Heaven

    Grandin, Temple (1976-01)
    The article follows two 4-H members as they take their cattle to the chute for slaughter after learning and compiling an "informational exhibit demonstrating the importance of cattle in modern life".
  • Chute Losses Aren't Accidents! Most Injuries can be Avoided. Here's How to Rate the Performance of Your Chute and Crew

    Grandin, Temple (1974-01)
    The conclusion of the article reads "good handling during processing and re-implanting could mean the difference between a going operation and financial disaster. But it's up to you to make certain your crew understands and follows proper chute practices. When they do, it will mean more money in your pocket."
  • Brief Report: Response to National Institutes of Health Report

    Grandin, Temple (1996)
    The article discusses the National Institutes of Health Report and its lack of research on sensory problems in autism.
  • Needs of High Functioning Teenagers and Adults with Autism (Tips from a Recovered Autistic)

    Grandin, Temple (1990-04)
    Some of the topics discussed in the article include: Direct Fixations, Gradual Introduction to a Career, Talent and Deficit Areas, Thinking in Pictures, Reading and Language, Social Problems, Recognize Need for Change, Cognitive Differences, Constant Anxiety, Improvement Takes Time, Family Background and Depression, Sensory Problems, Aggressive and Self-Injurious Behavior.
  • Teaching Tips from a Recovered Autistic

    Grandin, Temple (1988-04)
    An article by Grandin sharing tips for teaching and working with autistic children. The focus is on: Structured Environment, Learning to Talk, Rhythm, Sensory Problems, Reducing Arousal, Tactile Stimulation, Fixations, Visual Thinking. The conclusion of the article reads "I cannot over emphasize the important role that good teachers and therapists play in enabling autistics to lead a fuller life. A good autism program needs dedicated people and should use a variety of treatment methods in combination with an intense structured environment".
  • The Welfare of pigs during Transport and Slaughter

    Grandin, Temple (2003)
    The article researches "electric stunning, carbon dioxide stunning, pig behaviour during handling, return to sensibility, facility design, truck loading, density and transport stress".
  • Chapter 10: Antemortem Handling and Welfare

    Grandin, Temple; Hui (ed.), Y.H.; Wai-Kit (ed.), Nip; Rogers (ed.), Robert W.; Young (ed.), Owen A. (2001)
    The chapter discusses the following topics: Continuous Measurement and Monitoring, Meat Quality Correlations, How Stressful is Slaughter?, Causes of Poor Welfare Audit Scores, Animal Vision, Hearing and Smell, Basic Handling Principles, Handler Movement Patterns, Design of Handling Facilities, Design and Operation of Restraint Devices, Stunning, Stunning Method and Blood-Splash, Bruising and Meat Quality.
  • Habituating Antelope and Bison to Cooperate with Veterinary Procedures

    Grandin, Temple (2000)
    A study that involved conditioning antelope and bison calves over a a number of days so that the animals would not panic so that veterinarian procedures like blood sampling would be performed on a calm animal.
  • Good Management Practice for Animal Handling and Stunning

    Grandin, Temple (American Meat Institute Foundation, 1900)
    On the front cover is a handwritten note that reads "original guidelines I used when the McDonalds audits were started in 1999".
  • Double Rail Restrainer for Handling Beef Cattle

    Grandin, Temple (1991)
    The summary of the article reads "A new double rail conveyor restrainer for handling cattle at the slaughter plant is described. It has improved safety and ergonomics compared to the V restrainer conveyor it replaces. Cattle ride astride a moving conveyor. This design could also be adapted for veterinary work."
  • Effect of Naltrexone on Relaxation Induced by Flank Pressure in Pigs

    Grandin, Temple; Dodman, Nicholas; Shuster, Louis (1989)
    The study injected ten pigs with Naltrexone and ten pigs a saline injection to study the effects on relaxation. In the end, the study discovered that "treatment had no effect on the final degree of relaxation", but "pressure on the sides of a pig's body in a comfortable padded apparatus will induce pigs to relax".
  • Livestock Handling Needs Improvement

    Grandin, Temple (1985-08)
    The article discusses problems with the handling of livestock and the conclusion of the article states "rough handling of livestock is not only inhumane, but can cause excessive losses due to sickness and slower growth...careful handling of livestock in all phases of production is prerequisite to a profitable business".
  • Reduce Stress of Handling to Improve Productivity of Livestock

    Grandin, Temple (1984-06)
    The article focuses on stress factors, which include: Genetic Background, Individual Differences, Past Experiences. The conclusion of the article states "reducing handling stress of animals will improve their weight gain, reproductive performance, and ability to resist disease".
  • Dipping is Easy...With Right Vat Design

    Grandin, Temple (1978)
    The article discusses dipping vats and three basic types of dipping systems: Jump in Vat, Hydraulic Cage Vat, and the Box Sprayer.
  • Biotechnology and Animal Welfare

    Grandin, Temple (1991)
    The articles discusses "processes which require the manipulation of genetic material to produce a substance which is administered to a farm animal or manipulation of the animal's own genetic material". The last section focuses on the ethical questions "from the viewpoint of the author who has had years of experience...".
  • Boar Presence Reduces Fighting in Mixed Slaughter-Weight Pigs

    Grandin, Temple (1992)
    The article studies the presence of boars in reducing fighting in the groups of pigs therefore reducing skin blemishes.
  • Designing Meat Packing Plant Handling Facilities for Cattle and Hogs

    Grandin, Temple (1979)
    The focus is on design, more specifically, "animal handling facilities which are labor saving and reduce bruise losses". The article studies: Unloading Chutes, Stockyard Design, Hog Plant Stockyard, General Purpose Small Stockyard, Beef Stockyard, Cattle Crowding Pens, Hog Crowding Pens, Slopes in Chutes and Crowding Pens, Single File Chutes General Recommendations, Single File Chutes for Cattle, Slaughter Restrainers,

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